“AS long as you live on this earth, there will be expenses. Some will be for yourself, some for your family, and much for other people – people that work for you, people you know, and people you don’t know. You will constantly face this test that you will not want to give but you will have to. And, if you choose not to give, the loss shall be yours. Think of income, not expenses. Spend on life.”

A wise old millionaire advised me such long back when I was in college. He owned one of the biggest construction companies in the world. He was not a Muslim.

Years later, after going bankrupt twice in two separate businesses, I was starting out on my third new venture. During this time we were all out of money and the expenses – pending bills and rents – were large. Lethal law suits were looming and just around the corner. I would spend my nights working, chatting and praying. My days would be spent meeting people and roaming all around Riyadh. One of the online chats I used to have everyday with was a Saudi lady, whom I will not name, and her husband. I would discuss my plans and ideas with her as she too was interested in launching her own business. Her husband would join in the chat too. We became good friends with similar problems. They were the direct descendants of the illustrious Companion and first Khalifah, Abu Bakr Al-Siddique (may Allah be pleased with him).

One day, I told her we were out of money. She asked me to meet her husband the next day in Olaya at Al-Khozama Hotel. I met him. A very nice man with a constant smile. He handed me 10,000 riyals and said, "This is Qard Al-Hasana (A good loan) for your initial setup. Return it when you can." I used that money to shed some of my pending bills and that rid me of several headaches. Later that same week, I gave all the remaining (SR 50) to a beggar in charity.

The next day, I got a client who paid me SR5,000 and business started trickling in. In the end of that month, I had enough to take SR10,000 back to my Saudi friends. I found out that the couple sold their gold to give me the money on that day. That was basically all that they had too. But, by this time, they had also earned a lot of money through business. Amazing, isn't it? That day I remembered what the old man had said. And more than that, what Allah has said in the Qur'an, in Surat Al-Duha:

وَأَمَّا السَّائِلَ فَلَا تَنْهَرْ

"And repulse not the beggar."

We, as individuals and companies, always focus on cost reduction. Cost reduction at the cost of someone’s job, someone’s sentiments and needs. We apply the policy of capitalism and we believe in “saving”. I believe in Giving. Allah has guided us not to spend everything that we have, nor save so much that we become stingy. Allah has also ordered us never to stop our hands from giving openly and secretly. We would be doing this automatically if we considered our responsibilities towards our family, relatives, friends – Huqooq Al-Ibaad (Rights of people).

Businesspeople are constantly tested with different types of expenditure, which is sometimes totally 'out-of-the-blue'. When reserves are low at such times, most tend to panic. They should not. These are opportunities to get richer. This is the time to give.

A Hand that we cannot see provides the sustenance of this world. Allah is the Provider and He gives a lot to all His creation.

One of the greatest businessmen of this country is Sulaiman Abdul Aziz Al-Rajhi. Al-Rajhi is known for his unconditional charity. I am a witness to this. He once said something that means like this: 'I cannot fire that man even though I am losing so much each year because of him. It is his bread and butter and I will not take it away from Him. I fear the wrath of Allah.'

What Al-Rajhi is today, we all know.

Big words like Cost Reduction and Layoffs challenge the wisdom we have been given. Companies now operate under huge debt and pressure. It has affected world's economies and the way of life we see around us. The rich are now getting richer and the poor are going from bad to worse. The distribution of wealth in the Ummah has become a pathetic situation.

Point of this article:

There are many ways and strategies for business. Some work, some don’t . But the strategy given by Allah in the Qur'an does work.

Give to people and Allah will give you. Income increases as you take care of your expenses happily, without regret. It requires sacrifice. Sacrifice of “common sense" and “smart decisions". A true believer most likely will not go through the same trial every time. If he is facing a recurring problem, then he is making a mistake somewhere. He needs to fix it.

You see, you do not need to focus on raising your income, Allah will do that. You need to focus on giving on time and paying on time and keeping your word. You need to focus on honesty and transparency. You need to focus on giving those 50 riyals to the seemingly lying beggar. You need to constantly challenge your own mind by saying this: 'Allah knows, and I do not.' And you need to sacrifice. You need to stop judging and start doing. A few months of this practice, complimented by prayer and righteous deeds will remove every burden and bring prosperity and happiness Insha Allah.

A small story before I sign off: I had a friend in USA. He complained that the $2,000 he made each month was not enough. He would end up with just $200 at the end of the month. I told him: Stop giving to organizations. Give more to families. Walk the streets of downtown LA and see if you find people in need. Put a 20 dollar bill in someone’s hand and walk away.

His income rose to $9000 per month within three months.